Biden announces reelection bid to continue "battle for nation's soul" Foreign experts analyse choice US facing

Biden has officially announced his intention to run for president of the United States again. Should Biden win, he would be 86 years old at the end of the second term.

Many believe that the Democrats will be hesitant to change horses in midstream. But Donald Trump also has a strong chance of being elected. While metropolitan areas are more likely to vote for Democrats, "little golden America" traditionally votes for Republicans. The Democrats will probably try every possible way to send Trump to the bottom. They haven't shown all the trump cards against him. There may be attempts to knock him out of the race by legal action. After all, Trump has two more federal cases pending against him. An alternative to Trump could be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis has not yet formally declared his candidacy, but according to polls from the Republican electorate, he is now well behind Trump in a potential fight for his party's presidential nomination. So a battle for the presidency between Joe Biden and Donald Trump looks very likely.

US President Joe Biden suggested on Wednesday that he may well seek re-election despite the fact that many fellow citizens are currently unhappy with his performance.

"All presidents find themselves in about the same position at this point in their term in office," he said at a White House press conference, responding to a question about low approval ratings. Biden noted that polls show 42-46%  support him.

"At the end of the day, people will be able to assess my performance at the polls," he added.

Explaining why he decided to run for a second term, Biden explained that "we are living in a tipping point. The next two, three, four years will determine what happens in the next two, three, four decades." Therefore, according to the president, he wants to stay in power and "finish the job he started".

In addition, he noted that his most likely electoral rival would be former President Donald Trump. Biden called him dangerous for the US.

While the emergence of Ron DeSantis as a contender for the Republican presidential nomination is not out of the question, almost no one expects prominent Democrats to be willing to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. As analysts predict, Biden's most serious rival may not be Donald Trump, but the US economy. Aversion to Trump is sure to unite the Democratic electorate, but a sharp drop in economic indicators, lingering inflation and rising unemployment could turn independent voters away from Biden, the US media said. In addition, Republicans, who now hold the majority in the House of Representatives, are investigating the business activities of Joe Biden's son and brother, who, according to the president's critics, have tried to capitalise on their proximity to him. The results of these investigations could be made public during the election campaign.

The president's advisers say he has no intention of holding campaign rallies or meetings with voters just yet. The real campaign, they say, will begin once it is clear who the Republican presidential candidate will be.

What the real preferences in American society are now, and could they change dramatically closer to the polls? Is Biden's age really seen by Americans as a lesser evil compared to the likelihood of Trump or his party rival DeSantis returning to power? What does that have to do with it? Or does DeSantis have a better reputation and therefore a better chance of voter sympathy and victory?

American experts answered these questions for Caliber.Az.

As Alexander Motyl, professor of political science at Rutgers University (USA), said, DeSantis does not have the same bloc of bigoted voters as Trump. And the latter has become toxic even to many Republicans.

"I think Biden has a good chance, but much as always depends on the economy and the war in Ukraine," said Motyl.

Political columnist John Varoli says there are no longer free elections in the US.

"How can elections be free when the Democratic Party completely controls the flow of information in the country? Our elections are just theatre. And the Democrats have no plans to give up power," Varoli said.

For his part, analyst and journalist Samson Katzman noted that indeed, a situation is developing in the US where two age-old candidates from both parties, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, appear to be the most likely contenders in the 2024 presidential election.

"Both are far from high moral standards - the Biden family corruption cases and Trump's amorous affairs - with the payment of hush money to a porn actress from his election fund - are on everyone's radar.

Trump, judging by his recent speeches, has lost some of his charisma, his energy, his fervour as a fighter threatening to "drain Washington's swamp" - to challenge the so-called "deep state". Nevertheless, in the April 11 poll, he was favored by 78% of the likely Republican voters, compared to 69% for DeSantis. In the situation as it stands, I think the question that should be asked is which candidate would be the best choice for the country.

What can the current administration take credit for? Withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, another massive leak of classified information is clearly not on her list of successes.

A very effective and workable approach to the recent bankruptcies of American banks Silicone Valley and Signature, which, if not entirely prevented, at least pushed back the threat of the financial crisis predicted by many analysts. What else?

It is predictability, which Donald Trump sorely lacks. I am inclined to suggest that in the absence of any force majeure, predictability will be the determining factor in the 2024 vote. This is crucial amid ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict and growing Chinese ambitions," said Katzman.